The invention provides novel chiral compounds including 2-methoxy-2-trifluoromethylphenylacetic thioacid useful to react with and analyze other chiral compounds that have an electrophilic chiral carbon center.

Claim:

What is claimed is:

1. A composition comprising a compound of formula I or a salt thereof, ##STR00013## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are each independently (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl,(C.sub.3-C.sub.6)cycloalkyl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkoxy, wherein any cycloalkyl, alkyl, or aryl group is optionally substituted with one or more halo, oxo, hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy,acetoxy, acetamido, cyano, nitro, nitroso, methylmercapto, ethylmercapto, carboxyl, sulfonate, or sulfinate groups; and wherein any cycloalkyl or aryl group is additionally optionally substituted with one or more methyl or ethyl; wherein none ofR.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are identical to each other, and no two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are linked together to form a cycloalkyl or aryl ring.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein R.sup.1 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkoxy; R.sup.2 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, (C.sub.3-C.sub.6)cycloalkyl, or aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl; and R.sup.3 is aryl; wherein anycycloalkyl, alkyl, or aryl group is optionally substituted with one or more halo, oxo, hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, acetoxy, acetamido, cyano, nitro, nitroso, methylmercapto, ethylmercapto, carboxyl, sulfonate, or sulfinate groups; and wherein anycycloalkyl or aryl group is additionally optionally substituted with one or more methyl or ethyl.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein R.sup.1 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, wherein the alkyl group of alkoxy is optionally substituted with one or more halo; R.sup.2 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halo; andR.sup.3 is aryl.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein R.sup.1 is methoxy, ethoxy, or benzyloxy; R.sup.2 is methyl or ethyl, optionally substituted with one or more halo; and R.sup.3 is phenyl or naphthyl.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein R.sup.1 is methoxy, ethoxy, methyl, or ethyl; R.sup.2 is methyl or ethyl, optionally substituted with one or more halo; and R.sup.3 is phenyl or naphthyl; wherein none of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3are identical to each other.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein R.sup.1 is methoxy, ethoxy, or benzyloxy; R.sup.2 is CF.sub.3; and R.sup.3 is phenyl or naphythyl.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein R.sup.1 is methoxy, R.sup.2 is CF.sub.3, and R.sup.3 is phenyl.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises the compound of formula I or salt thereof in at least a 20:1 ratio of R:S or S:R stereochemistry.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises the compound of formula I or salt thereof in at least a 99:1 ratio of R:S or S:R stereochemistry.

10. The composition of claim 1 comprising a salt of the compound of formula I with a cation of formula 12: ##STR00014##

11. The composition of claim 7 comprising a salt of the compound of formula I with a cation of formula 12: ##STR00015##

Description:

BACKGROUND

Since its introduction nearly forty years ago, Mosher's acid (2-methoxy-2-triflouromethylphenylacetic acid 1), (1) and the corresponding acid chloride (2) have found increasing use as agents for determining the enantiomeric excess of amines andalcohols by NMR and other methods (2).

##STR00001##

Other reagents are needed that can be used to determine the stereochemistry of other chiral compounds, particularly those that do not react well with Mosher's acid.

SUMMARY

The invention involves a compound of formula I or a salt thereof:

##STR00002##

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are each independently (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, (C.sub.3-C.sub.6)cycloalkyl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkoxy, wherein any cycloalkyl, alkyl, oraryl group is optionally substituted with one or more halo, oxo, hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, acetoxy, acetamido, cyano, nitro, nitroso, methylmercapto, ethylmercapto, carboxyl, sulfonate, or sulfinate groups; and wherein any cycloalkyl or aryl group isadditionally optionally substituted with one or more methyl or ethyl; wherein none of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are identical to each other (that is, the compound is chiral). Preferably no two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are linked together toform a cycloalkyl or aryl ring. Preferably, no R.sup.1, R.sup.2, or R.sup.3 is of the formula R.sup.4--C(.dbd.O)--O--, wherein R.sup.4 is any atom or group.

The thioacid group of a compound of formula I is nucleophilic. Even more so the ionized thiocarboxylate group, which is the ionized form of a compound of formula I, is an excellent nucleophile that can react with many electrophilic carboncenters. A particular compound of formula I, 2-methoxy-2-triflouromethylphenylacetic thioacid, also referred to herein as Mosher's thioacid, is found by the inventor to be stable in air. The inventor has also found that it can be synthesized withretention of configuration and high chemical and optical purity.

##STR00003##

The salt of Mosher's thioacid with 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene forms crystals that are soluble in organic solvents and remarkably stable in air.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of analyzing a test compound having an electrophilic carbon center, wherein the test compound is a compound of formula IIa or IIb,

##STR00004##

wherein X, Y, and Z are independently any atom or group, L is a leaving atom or group, Q is a group having an electrophilic carbon atom, none of L, X, Y, and Z is identical to each other and none of X, Y, Z, and Q-L is identical to each other;

the method comprising reacting the test compound with a compound of formula I or a salt thereof,

##STR00005##

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are each independently (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, (C.sub.3-C.sub.6)cycloalkyl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkoxy, wherein any cycloalkyl, alkyl, oraryl group is optionally substituted with one or more halo, oxo, hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, acetoxy, acetamido, cyano, nitro, nitroso, methylmercapto, ethylmercapto, carboxyl, sulfonate, or sulfinate groups; and wherein any cycloalkyl or aryl group isadditionally optionally substituted with one or more methyl or ethyl; wherein none of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are identical to each other;

to form an adduct of formula IIIa or IIIb

##STR00006##

and analyzing the stereochemistry of the adduct to determine the stereochemistry of chiral center C.sup.a or C.sup.b in the adduct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-5 show reaction schemes used in the Example and the structures of compounds used or produced in the Example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions:

The term "aryl" as used herein refers to a 5-10-member conjugated ring system. It includes groups having only carbon atoms in the ring system and groups having hetero ring atoms. Preferred aryl groups in the compounds of formula I are phenyland naphthyl.

The terms "alkyl" and "cycloalkyl" include groups having only saturated C--C bonds or one or more unsaturated C--C bonds.

Unless specifically stated that cycloalkyl, alkyl, or aryl are optionally substituted, they are not optionally substituted. Where it is stated that a cycloalkyl, alkyl or aryl group is optionally interrupted or substituted, this applies to thecyclo alkyl, alkyl, and aryl as components of larger groups as well, such as alkoxy, aryloxy, arylalkyl, etc.

Description:

One embodiment of the invention provides a compound of formula I or a salt thereof:

##STR00007##

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are each independently (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, (C.sub.3-C.sub.6)cycloalkyl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkoxy, wherein any cycloalkyl, alkyl, oraryl group is optionally substituted with one or more halo, oxo, hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, acetoxy, acetamido, cyano, nitro, nitroso, methylmercapto, ethylmercapto, carboxyl, sulfonate, or sulfinate groups; and wherein any cycloalkyl or aryl group isadditionally optionally substituted with one or more methyl or ethyl; wherein none of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are identical to each other (that is, the compound is chiral). Preferably no two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are linked together toform a cycloalkyl or aryl ring. Preferably, no R.sup.1, R.sup.2, or R.sup.3 is of the formula R.sup.4--C(.dbd.O)--O--, wherein R.sup.4 is any atom or group.

In a particular embodiment, R.sup.1 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkoxy; R.sup.2 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, (C.sub.3-C.sub.6)cycloalkyl, or aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl; and R.sup.3 is aryl; wherein any cycloalkyl,alkyl, or aryl group is optionally substituted with one or more halo, oxo, hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, acetoxy, acetamido, cyano, nitro, nitroso, methylmercapto, ethylmercapto, carboxyl, sulfonate, or sulfinate groups; and wherein any cycloalkyl or arylgroup is additionally optionally substituted with one or more methyl or ethyl.

In a particular embodiment, R.sup.1 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, wherein the alkyl group of alkoxy is optionally substituted with one or more halo; R.sup.2 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halo; and R.sup.3 isaryl.

In a particular embodiment, R.sup.1 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkoxy, (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl, or benzyloxy, wherein the alkyl and phenyl groups are optionally substituted with one or more halo; R.sup.2 is (C.sub.1-C.sub.6)alkyl optionally substitutedwith one or more halo, and R.sup.3 is aryl, aryl(C.sub.1-C.sub.3)alkyl, or benzyloxy.

In a particular embodiment R.sup.1 methoxy, ethoxy, or benzyloxy; R.sup.2 is methyl or ethyl, optionally substituted with one or more halo; and R.sup.3 is phenyl or naphthyl.

In a specific embodiment, R.sup.1 is methoxy, ethoxy, methyl, or ethyl; R.sup.2 is methyl or ethyl, optionally substituted with one or more halo; and R.sup.3 is phenyl or naphthyl.

In a specific embodiment, R.sup.1 is methoxy, ethoxy, or benzyloxy; R.sup.2 is CF.sub.3; and R.sup.3 is phenyl or naphthyl.

In a specific embodiment R.sup.1 is methoxy, R.sup.2 is CF.sub.3, and R.sup.3 is phenyl.

Another embodiment of the invention is a salt of the thiocarboxylate anion of the compound of formula I with a cation. In a particular embodiment, the cation is an alkali metal cation. In another particular embodiment, the cation is theprotonated form of the nitrogen bases ammonia, amines, diamines and triamines. In another particular embodiment, the cation is the amidinium or a substituted amidinium ion or a guanidinium or substituted guanidinium ion. In another particularembodiment, the cation is a quaternary ammonium ion. In a specific embodiment, the salt is the thiocarboxylate anion of a compound of formula I complexed with the protonated form of the diamine, 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene

In one embodiment of the invention the composition comprises the compound of formula I or salt thereof in at least a 20:1 ratio of R:S or S:R stereoisomers.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of analyzing a test compound of formula IIa or IIb having an electrophilic carbon center, involving reacting the test compound with a compound of formula I or a salt thereof to form an adductof formula IIIa or IIIb and analyzing the stereochemistry of the adduct to determine the stereochemistry of chiral center C.sup.a or C.sup.b in the adduct. In the compound of formula IIa, the electrophilic carbon center is the chiral carbon centerC.sup.b. But the chiral carbon C.sup.b may be a different carbon atom from the electrophilic carbon atom that bonds to the S of the compound of formula I. Where the chiral carbon C.sup.b is different from the electrophilic carbon, the method involvesreacting a compound of formula IIb with a compound of formula I to form the adduct IIIb.

##STR00008##

In the compound of formula IIa or IIb X, Y, and Z are independently any atom or group, L is a leaving atom or group, and Q is a group having an electrophilic carbon atom. Two or more of the groups on carbon C.sup.b can be linked to form one ormore rings, provided C.sup.b is chiral.

An example of a compound of formula IIb that can be reacted with Mosher's thioacid salt to form an adduct of formula IIIb is compound 13 below.

##STR00009##

Typically, in the method of analyzing a test compound, the compound of formula I or salt thereof is a pure enantiomer, that is, at least 95% one enantiomer or the other, or a highly pure enantiomer that is at least 99% one enantiomer or theother. In other embodiments, it is at least two-thirds one enantiomer or the other. In some embodiments, the compound of formula I or salt thereof is a racemic mixture, with equal amounts of both R and S stereoisomers. In that case, part of theanalysis may be to determine which enantiomer preferentially reacts with which enantiomer of the compound of formula II.

In the method of analyzing a test compound, the adduct of formula III may be analyzed by various techniques including NMR spectroscopy, polarimetry, gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS), infrared spectroscopy, coupled GC/MS, liquidchromatography, HPLC, and HPLC/MS.

One embodiment of the method of analyzing a test compound comprises determining enantiomeric excess of the test compound of formula II by determining the diastereomeric excess of the test compound of the adduct of formula III. The enantiomericexcess (ee) is the excess percent or fraction of a compound that is one enantiomer. For instance, if 90% of a mixture is the R enantiomer and 10% is the S enantiomer, the mixture has an 80% enantiomeric excess of the R enantiomer (90%-10%) compared tothe racemic content (10% R+10% S). The diastereomeric excess is the analagous term for diastereomers.

In the example below, the method is used to analyze the stereochemistry and reactivity of .alpha.-bromobenzylic compounds, benzylic methanesulfonate (mesylate) esters, and benzylic alcohols. Thus, in some embodiments, the leaving group L in thecompound of formula II is halo or methanesulfonate or even hydroxyl groups (activated under Mitsunobu conditions). In more specific embodiments, it is bromo, chloro, or iodo. In other embodiments, the leaving group L is a diazonium (RN.sub.2.sup.+13>N.sub.2), pseudohalide (e.g., benzotriazole or thiocyanate), sulfonium (R.sub.3S.sup.+-->R.sub.2S) or oxonium (R.sub.3O.sup.+-->R.sub.2O) group.

One embodiment of the method of analyzing a test compound involves determining whether the test compound reacts with the compound of formula I stereospecifically by S.sub.N2 mechanism (3). This can be determined by whether the stereochemistry ofC.sup.b chiral center in the adduct of formula IIIa is cleanly inverted from the stereochemistry of the C.sup.b chiral center in the test compound of formula IIa.

The invention will now be illustrated by the following example, which is intended to illustrate the invention but not limit its scope.

EXAMPLE

We have found that Mosher's thioacid (3, shown below) is readily prepared and easily forms stable salts with organic bases. It is shown in this example that these salts are very powerful nucleophiles useful for detecting the enantiomeric excess(ee) of optically active benzylic bromides.

##STR00010##

Mosher's thioacid, 3, can be prepared by treating the acid chloride 2 with hydrogen sulfide. Although this route is economical, attaining high conversions requires careful control of highly toxic and corrosive gases under pressure (4). As such,this approach is not convenient for a laboratory synthesis.

Shin and Quinn (5) describe the preparation of fatty thioacids from fatty acid chlorides using thioacetic acid as a convenient and inexpensive carrier of hydrogen sulfide. This method gives a practical laboratory synthesis of Mosher's thioacid,which easily operates even on very small scale. Workup using an excess of aqueous ammonia (6) and then acid, produces optically active Mosher's thioacid with retention of configuration and high chemical and optical purity. This is shown in Scheme 1(FIG. 1).

The nucleophilicities of thioacids (pK.sub.a.apprxeq.3.5) are activated by conversion to their salts, thiocarboxylate ions. We have found that either the racemic or resolved salts of Mosher's thioacid (5) neutralized with slightly less than oneequivalent of PROTON SPONGE [1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene] are readily recrystallized from minimal ethanol producing colorless shiny non-hygroscopic crystals that are remarkably stable in air and soluble in chloroform-d and many other organicsolvents (7).

To check the reactivity of 5, two optically active benzylic bromides, 7a and 7b, were prepared using the especially mild method of Schmidt and Brooks (8a) and described by Stein (8b).

##STR00011##

We found that the nucleophilicity of 5 is sufficient even in CDCl.sub.3 for dilute solutions to react cleanly with these benzylic bromides at room temperature to produce (predominantly S.sub.N2 inverted) benzylic thiolesters, 6 (Scheme 2, FIG.2). Elimination side reactions are insignificant and racemization is minimal, especially in the early stages of these reactions (9).

Considering this, reagent 5 is excellent for determining the enantiomer excess (ee) of benzylic bromides, 7 (10). For this purpose, NMR integrations of the methoxy quartet (11), or the trifluoromethyl singlet (11) of Mosher's acyl groups, or themethyl doublet of the phenethyl groups can be used to determine the diastereomeric excess (de) of the predominant (S,S)-diastereomers (10c), 6, produced from (R)-7. Chromatographic analyses provide a more sensitive determination of diastereomer ratios,which is especially useful in the early stages of these reactions, when racemization of 7 is negligible.

Both benzylic bromides 7a and 7b were prepared from the corresponding (S)-alcohols of high optical purity. Both preparations used conditions essentially identical to those described by Stein (8). Our results (de values in Scheme 2), show twovery different ee values for the similar bromides 7a and 7b. At least in our hands, the stereochemical integrity of Stein's method can differ markedly even in these two closely related cases. This difference is readily detected by reagent (S)-5.

In order to unambiguously establish the ee of 7a, a second determination was undertaken. Givens, et al. (12) previously reported the optically active (S)-chloro analogue of 7a and prepared the (R)-benzyl thioether, 9, from it([.alpha.].sub.D=+92.6.degree., EtOH). The optical purities of neither of these compounds were determined. We repeated this reaction with bromide (R)-7a and obtained a somewhat greater absolute value for the rotation of 9,([.alpha.].sub.D=-138.degree., EtOH) (FIG. 3). In our hands, this thioether crystallized and on recrystallization from ethanol, the observed rotation reached a constant value 2.36 times the initial value ([.alpha.].sub.D=-328.degree., 0.5% in EtOH)(13). This is consistent with the initial optical purity of 9 being .gtoreq.42%, in reasonable agreement with the value of 48% seen for the de of derivative 6a produced from 7a (14).

The low ee of (R)-7a was further confirmed by our finding that (R)-7a ([.alpha.].sub.D.apprxeq.+23.degree.) (15) can be recrystallized from pentane to a much higher optical purity: [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.26=+64.3.degree. (1%, pentane) (13). Reaction of these crystals with (S)-5 (see experimental) indicates that they have reached 94% ee. The optical activity of crude (R)-7a indicates that the ee is .gtoreq.43%.

To explore the utility of reagent (S)-5 for determining the ee of more active benzylic methanesulfonate esters, we prepared mesylate 10 from (S)-8a by reaction of (S)-8a in methanesulfonyl chloride/Et.sub.3N (16). Following the reaction of 10with reagent (S)-5 (FIG. 4), by NMR we observed that the de of the major product, the expected (S,R)-diastereomer of 6a in this case, decreased significantly as the reaction proceeded. This suggests that racemization is more significant in this casethan in the reaction of (S)-5 with (R)-7a. Extrapolating the de values back to the initial time (t=0) indicates that the initial ee of 10 was quite high (85-95%).

This was confirmed again by applying Given's method (12). The thioether derivative of 10 was prepared and the optical activity of the product, (R)-9, indicates that the ee of 10 was .gtoreq.83%. This value must be considered to represent alower limit for the ee, because racemization of 10 probably compromised this result, too. Less than quantitative yields of the S.sub.N2 products [75% for 6a and 90% for (R)-9] further limit the application of both of these approaches for determining theee of very active mesylate esters.

Finally, we have demonstrated the activation of alcohol (S)-8a for direct reaction with Mosher's thioacid, (S)-3, in CDCl.sub.3 under Mitsunobu conditions (17). As is expected, the (S,R)-diastereomer of thioester 6a, the product of a singleinversion, greatly predominates. Analyses by .sup.19F NMR show that the de is >85% at completion (94% by GC/MS). Unfortunately, racemization and side reactions again compete with the desired S.sub.N2 reaction.

##STR00012##

We conclude that the optically active Mosher's (S)-thioacid, (S)-3, and its salt (S)-5 are highly effective agents for determining the ee of benzylic bromides and other less reactive alkyl halides, reacting with clean S.sub.N2 inversion. Theyare also highly reactive agents for determining the ee of other similarly reactive electrophilic compounds. For even more reactive electrophilic compounds, competing reactions can compromise the results and may require extra care to properly evaluate.

Note that the preparation and spectral properties of the racemic thioacid from racemic acid are identical to this procedure. Also, note that Mosher's (S)-acid chloride, (S)-2, is commercially available. A two-neck 15-mL flask withstopcock/N.sub.2 inlet, stir bar and condenser fitted with N.sub.2 sweep across the top was charged with 204 mg of moist (hygroscopic) (R)-(+)-Mosher's acid, (R)-1, (<0.87 mmol), 2 .mu.L of DMF (catalyst) and a large excess (0.5-1 mL) of thionylchloride. This mixture was refluxed for 2 h. The condenser was exchanged for a sublimer head with a Dry-Ice condenser sufficiently enclosed so that, for transfer, the cold finger could later be flushed with N.sub.2, avoiding exposure to air. Thionylchloride was briefly refluxed off the cold finger. The entire apparatus was brought to 30-40.degree. C. and swept with N.sub.2 to remove SOCl.sub.2 (to base trap). The cold finger was chilled to 0.degree. C. and the sublimer was evacuated to 1 Torr(mm of Hg) to remove the last trace of SOCl.sub.2. The cold finger was cooled to <-100.degree. C. with ethanol slush (liq. N.sub.2) and the pressure was lowered to 0.02 Torr. The acid chloride, (S)-2, sublimed under these conditions. Note that at-78.degree. C., this acid chloride can remain liquid and is sufficiently fluid to reflux off the cold finger.

A similar dry two-neck ice-cooled reaction flask with stir bar and stopcock/N.sub.2 inlet was charged under N.sub.2 with 5 mL of anhydrous THF, 2.0 mL of 1M KOtBu/THF (2 mmol) and 205 .mu.L (excess) of thioacetic acid forming a translucent slurryof potassium thioacetate. Under positive flows of N.sub.2, the cold finger with the sublimed acid chloride (S)-2 was transferred to the flask containing the ice-cooled thioacetate slurry. Condensing THF and a final rinse with 2 mL additional THF washedthe acid chloride off the cold finger (-78.degree. C.) into the reaction flask, which was then stirred at RT for 30 min. This reaction mixture was mixed briefly with 10 mL of cold 15% aqueous ammonia and the resulting yellow solution was acidifiedquickly (6N HCl) and the thioacid extracted into three washes of dichlormethane. (Extraction of the basic mixture with CH.sub.2Cl.sub.2 before acidification is necessary to remove impurities if the reaction has discolored to amber or red. This alsohelps to remove THF (+H.sub.2O), which is responsible for extracting the ammonium salt of 3 from the acidified mixture.) Concentration left 267 mg of wet (water+THF) yellow thioacid, (S)-3. Distillation by vacuum transfer (60-70.degree. C./0.02 Torr)to a cold receiver gave 199 mg (.about.90% yield) of yellow (S)-3 contaminated with colorless crystals of the ammonium salt of 3. Analytical data and subsequent reactions were done on the yellow thioacid phase, which is soluble in pentane (recovered byconcentrating) and readily separated from the insoluble crystals.

UV (CH.sub.3CN): generally decreasing absorbance from 210 to 350 nm with shoulders near 217 (.epsilon.=7.0.times.10.sup.3), 234 (3.6.times.10.sup.3) and weak .lamda..sub.max at 262 (6.7.times.10.sup.2) and 268 nm (5.7.times.10.sup.2). Note,however, that dilutions do not appear to strictly follow Beer's Law. For example, three values for .epsilon..sub.290 are 178 (9.2 mM), 197 (1.84 mM) and 262 (0.184 mM), consistent with more ionization at higher dilution. Furthermore, the.epsilon..sub.290 decreased when this solution was acidified (HCl) and increased dramatically when a small amount of aqueous tetrabutylammonium hydroxide was added.

Alternative workup for the racemic thioacid from the racemic acid chloride without ammonia quench, but distillation instead, produced (RS)-3 contaminated with mixed diacyl sulfide (RS)-4: .sup.19F NMR, -69.34 ppm (s); .sup.1H NMR, 3.635 (q,CH.sub.3O) and 2.55 ppm (s, CH.sub.3CO) and IR, 1767 cm.sup.-1 (C.dbd.O). Also produced by this workup, but not fully characterized, are two pairs of meso/d,l-diastereomers, presumably the diacyl sulfides and diacyl disulfides of Mosher's acyl group. These two pairs of diastereomers show nearly equal intensity signals at -69.47 and -69.51 (.sup.19F) and 3.48 and 3.60 ppm (q, CH.sub.3O) and the other at -69.69 and -69.71 (.sup.19F) and 3.64 and 3.65 ppm (q). These five impurities were not detected inthe thioacid product from workup by washing with aqueous ammonia.

C. Salts of Mosher's Thioacid with PROTON SPONGE: (RS)-5 and (S)-5.

The crystalline salts of either Mosher's (RS)- or (S)-thioacids with 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (PROTON SPONGE) readily form upon mixing the thioacids and the base. To maintain neutrality, a slight excess of the thioacid was used. Racemic and resolved salts usually pack in different crystal lattices. (This is true except in relatively rare cases where racemic compounds crystallize as conglomerate mixtures of the two enantiomeric crystals. See reference 2, page 7.) That aracemate is not a conglomerate of (R)-- and (S)-enantiomers is shown by observing different properties and spectra in the solid states of the (R)-- or (S)-- and (RS)-compounds. (See reference 2, pp 18-19.) Both the racemic and optically active salts(RS)-5 and (S)-5 recrystallize from minimal (1-3 parts of) absolute ethanol but grow in distinctly different habits: the racemic crystals appear to be nearly spherical (octahedral ?) and the (S)-crystals are distinctly elongated, clear, nearly colorlessprisms. Both forms exposed to air melt over a broad range and, surprisingly, both melt sharply at very similar temperatures with decomposition (off-gasing) when they are sealed under vacuum: racemic mp 137.0-137.8.degree. and (S)-5 mp 138.5-139.degree. after a single recrystallization from ethanol.

D. Use of Salt (S)-5 for Determining the Lower Limit for the ee of (R)-1-Bromo-1-(2-naphthyl)ethane, (R)-7a: Single-Reaction Method 1.

A 5 mm NMR tube was charged with 4.7 mg (0.010 mmol) of crystals of salt (S)-5. This readily dissolved in CDCl.sub.3 to 5 cm depth. NMR spectra (.sup.1H and .sup.19F) showed 5 with a low level (7 mole %) of ethanol impurity. This was mixedwith 2 mg of crystals of (R)-7a ([.alpha.].sub.D.apprxeq.+23.degree.). Note that excess 5 is necessary to assure complete reaction of 7a, thus avoiding kinetic sorting at the end. NMR (.sup.1H and .sup.19F) of this solution showed 5 and 7a in 1:0.82mole ratio. After 30 min. at 20.degree. C., the spectra showed 30% conversion of 7a cleanly to (S,S) and (S,R) diastereomers in .about.2.5:1 ratio. At 18 h, NMR showed 97% conversion to 3:1 mixture of the diastereomers (de.apprxeq.50%). No more 7awas detected after an additional 24 h at 25.degree. C. The final integration ratio of the two singlets at -69.42 and -69.28 ppm in the .sup.19F NMR spectrum was 2.8 (de.gtoreq.47%)* for the major (S,S)-6a and minor (S,R)-6a diastereomers. Proton NMRassignments for these are, respectively: 3.54 and 3.49 (q, CH.sub.3O, .sup.5J.sub.HF=1.7 Hz), 1.76 and 1.71 (d, CH.sub.3CH, .sup.3J.sub.HH=7 Hz), 4.89 and 4.91 (overlapping q, CH.sub.3CH) and 7.18-7.95 ppm (m, 12 aryl H, not resolved). Note that largecrystals of the HBr salt of PROTON SPONGE (12-HBr) separated in the course of this reaction but did not interfere with NMR acquisitions and integrations.

HPLC purification (Zorbax C18 column) of a sample of the final NMR solution showed that the ionic products eluted quickly and the diastereomers of 6a eluted together (and were collected) at 10-11 min. GC/MS on this eluate (100% methyl column)cleanly resolved the two diastereomers eluting at 17.19 and 17.63 min, integrating in the ratio 100:34.7, respectively (de=48%). (Minor racemization of 7a which occurs predominantly near the end of this single-reaction method, sets a lower limit to thevalue of ee that is determined from these de values by this method.) The ei mass spectra are virtually identical: m/e 404 (C.sub.22H.sub.19F.sub.3O.sub.2S, M.sup.+, 2%), 189 (C.sub.9H.sub.8F.sub.3O.sup.+,9%) and 155 (C.sub.12H.sub.11.sup.+, 100%).

E. Use of Salt (S)-5 for Determining the ee of Purified (R)-1-Bromo-1-(2-naphthyl)ethane, (R)-7a, the Extent of Racemization and the Relative Enantiomer Reaction Rates in the Formation of Diastereomers 6a: Full Double-Reaction Method.

Rationale.

Rigorous definition of the ee of benzylic bromides by determining the diastereomeric product ratio formed in their reaction with (S)-5 requires the determination of the degree (if any) of racemization that accompanies these reactions. Racemization of the benzylic bromide primarily occurs by S.sub.N2 reaction (inversion) with the liberated ionic bromide. Initially, the ionic bromide concentration, [Br.sup.-], (and racemization by this mechanism) is zero. The rate of racemizationincreases as the reaction proceeds and [Br.sup.-] increases. Evaluating the de for the reaction of (S)-5 with (R)-7a at low conversion and extrapolating to t=0 eliminates the complication of racemization occurring by this competing S.sub.N2 reaction. However, sampling at low conversions introduces other considerations. First, early sampling requires a means for quenching the reaction. Second, the de of the desired S.sub.N2 reaction is affected not only by the relative concentrations of the (R)--and (S)-benzylic bromides, but also by their (unequal) reaction rates with (S)-5. Furthermore, if the much more sensitive technique of GC analysis (GC/MS or FID-GC, for example) is used rather than, or in addition to, NMR analyses, the relative GCdetector sensitivities for the two diastereomers must be determined. And, of course, care must be taken to operate the detector in the range of linear response.

Two closely related and straightforward experiments address these considerations: first, the reaction of racemic (RS)-benzylic bromide with an excess of (S)-5 is sampled and quenched at early and late reaction time points and the de values aredetermined at each extreme and, second, the reaction of excess (S)-5 is repeated with racemic benzylic bromide. Integrals for the equimolar diasteromeric products from the first reaction [(RS)-bromide] determined at completion of the reaction indicatethe relative detector sensitivities for the two diasteromers. Early time points in this same series (corrected for any difference in the detector sensitivities) plotted back to t=0, indicate the ratio of the two S.sub.N2 reaction rate constants for thereactions of the (R)-- and (S)-bromides with (S)-5. Factoring these two results into the results of the second experiment (with optically active bromide) gives the corrected initial diastereomer ratio (and de values) from the early reaction data(projected to the initial time, t=0). The difference between the early de values and the corrected de values from later time points indicate the extent of racemization that has occurred subsequently. The following experiment demonstrates this method.

Quenching.

First, to check the suitability of methyl iodide for quenching these reactions [forming the methyl thioester (11) of Mosher's thioacid], an NMR experiment roughly followed the rate of this reaction. Initially, 50 .mu.L of a solution of 4 .mu.Lof CH.sub.3I in 0.5 mL of CDCl.sub.3 was added to 2.85 mg (6.1 .mu.mol) of (S)-5 in 0.7 mL of CDCl.sub.3 (+Fll and TMS). The first .sup.1H and .sup.19F NMR acquisitions at .about.6 and .about.10 min after mixing (19.degree. C.) show that nearlyequimolar amounts of (S)-5 and CH.sub.3I were initially charged and that this reaction was already about 50% complete at 6 min and 65% complete at 10 min. After 1.5 h, this reaction was complete [no (S)-5, but a low level of (S)-3 (from HI?) was detectedby .sup.19F NMR] and the HI salt (12-HI) of PROTON SPONGE, 3 and 11 were the only products seen by NMR. This study indicates that the rate constant for the reaction of CH.sub.3I with (S)-5 is at least ten times the rate constant for (S)-5 plus 7a. Subsequent use of CH.sub.3I to quench reactions of (S)-5 plus 7a used at least a 10-fold excess of methyl iodide. The rate of the quenching reaction is .gtoreq.100 times the rate of the reaction being monitored under these conditions.

For the reaction of (RS)-bromide with (S)-5, a 2 mL GC vial with Teflon-lined cap was charged with 1.27 mg (5.4 .mu.mol) of (RS)-7a crystals and 2.85 mg (6.1 .mu.mol) of (S)-5 crystals (kept apart). This reaction was initiated by adding 0.80 mLof CDCl.sub.3 and shaking. Samples of 200 .mu.L each were quenched at 5, 20 and 80 min. The remaining reaction mixture was allowed to continue for 2800 min total when it was diluted for .sup.1H and .sup.19F NMR without addition of methyl iodide--themethyl thioester (11) interferes with the integrations of the diastereomer CF.sub.3 singlets. These NMR spectra show that excess (S)-5, but no 7a, remains in the late sample. Integrations of the .sup.19F NMR signals of (S,R)-6a and (S,S)-6a indicatethat the two diastereomers were present in the ratio 1.027:1; i.e., 1:1 (as is expected) within the accuracy limits of NMR integrations. For GC/MS analyses, all four samples were filtered through 0.5 g of silica gel/dichloromethane to remove the salts. The filtrates (1 .mu.L), with appropriate dilutions, were injected on the 100% methyl GC column and detected and integrated using the MS detector with the highly sensitive mass selection for the m/e 155 base peak. At the completion of this reaction,peaks at 17.0 and 17.5 minutes [(S,S)-6a and (S,R)-6a diastereomers, respectively] were detected in the ratio 1:0.984 (.+-.0.002). This indicates that these two diastereomers show essentially identical sensitivities in this selective ion detection mode. Repeated integrations by this method for the chromatograms of the three earlier samples in this series, showed considerable scatter and no significant trend for the different early sample times. From these three times, the average for the ratios of thepeaks for these diastereomers was 1:0.94 (.+-.0.02), indicating that the second order rate constant for the formation of the (S,S)-diastereomer is only 95% (94/0.984) of the rate constant for formation of the (S,R)-diastereomer.

Chiral Reaction.

This experiment was repeated for the reaction of (S)-5 with optically purified (see Section M) (R)-7a ([.alpha.].sub.D.sup.30=+64.3.degree.) taking eight samples at 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320 and 1110 min. The initial charges were 1.2 mg of(R)-7a (5.1 .mu.mol) and 3 mg of (S)-5 (6-7 .mu.mol). The quenched, silica-filtered samples were analyzed as above. Although there is considerable scatter in the results, there is a definite trend toward an increasing level of the minor(S,R)-diastereomer from the early to the later samples. For the early (5, 10 and 20 min), medium (40, 80, 160 and 320 min) and late (1110 min) time points, the level increased from 3.2.+-.0.3% to 3.9.+-.0.7% and finally to 4.5% at the final time, whenthe reaction was about 90% complete. [This data includes the correction factors of 0.94 (GC-MS) and 0.95 (NMR) determined in the preceding paragraph.] Another similar experiment (with close to equimolar reactants) allowed to go essentially to completionand analyzed by both NMR and GC/MS methods shows the minor diastereomer [(S,R)-6a] had increased to 6.4% over the course of that entire reaction, which corresponds to a de of 88% for the major (S,S)-diastereomer. It is clear that the final stages ofthis reaction are accompanied by extensive racemization of the minor amount of (R)-7a that remains at the end. This is reasonable since the rate of the second-order reaction of (S)-5 with the benzylic bromide is decreasing much more rapidly than therate of the pseudo-first-order reaction of the benzylic bromide with ionic bromide. The concentration of bromide ion remains almost constant and quite high near the end of the reaction. [This assumes that the hydrogen bromide salt of PROTON SPONGE(12-HBr) has not precipitated in the course of this reaction. Precipitation often does occur near the end. Even then, after the salt precipitates, the concentration of dissolved bromide remains higher than the concentration of (S)-5.]

The level of 3.2% determined for the minor (S,R)-diastereomer at the first time points (5-20 min) is essentially the t=0 intercept. This corresponds to the initial de for the (S,S)-diastereomer and the ee for the starting (R)-7a being 94%. When(S)-5 was charged in only minor excess, by the end of the reaction, an overall additional 8% racemization of 7a has occurred, mostly in the final phase of the reaction.

F. Use of Salt (S)-5 for Determining the Lower Limit for the ee of (R)-1-Bromo-1-(2-bromophenyl)-ethane, (R)-7b: Single-Reaction Method 1.

This experiment was done similarly to the single-reaction method used for (R)-7a with nearly equimolar charges of the reactants. The charge was 6.7 mg (14 .mu.mol) of (S)-5 crystals and 3.5 mg (13 .mu.mol) of (R)-7b([.alpha.].sub.D.apprxeq.-47.8.degree., see Section O), 1:0.92 mole ratio. Early NMR spectra detected the (S,S)-diastereomer of the thioester product (-69.49 ppm by .sup.19F NMR) with no indication of the (S,R)-diastereomer. (See Section G, however.)After 18 h the reaction was 85-90% complete and the de for the (S,S)-diasteromer was 97%. After six days, bromide 7b was no longer detected by NMR. As above (Section D), large crystals of the HBr salt of PROTON SPONGE (12-HBr) separated in the courseof this reaction, but did not interfere with NMR acquisitions and integrations. The ratio of (S,S)-- and (S,R)-diastereomers seen at -69.49 and -69.30 ppm in the final spectrum was 1:0.020 (de=96%). This corresponds to an initial ee for the starting(R)-7b being .gtoreq.96%. (Once again, minor racemization of 7b, which occurs predominantly near the end of this single-reaction method, sets the lower limit for the value of ee that is determined.) (See Section G.) Proton assignments for the (S,S)--and (S,R)-diastereomers are: 3.54 and 3.57 (q, CH.sub.3O, .sup.5J.sub.HF=1.7 Hz), 1.68 and 1.62 (d, CH.sub.3CH, .sup.3J.sub.HH=7 Hz), 5.10 and 5.11 (overlapping q, CH.sub.3CH) and 7.06-7.56 ppm (m, 9 aryl H, not resolved). Assignments for the lesserdiastereomer were made by comparison with spectra of that same product prepared from (RS)-7b.

HPLC purification was essentially identical to that described above for reaction of (R)-7a. Subsequently, GC/MS (100% methyl column) cleanly resolved the major (S,S)-- and minor (S,R)-diastereomers eluting at 14.92 and 15.11 min in the ratio100:3.4 (de=93.4%). Again, the ei mass spectra of the two diastereomers are essentially identical. Neither show a molecular ion. The base peak is m/e 189 (C.sub.9H.sub.8F.sub.3O.sup.+, 100%). Bromine containing ions are seen at m/e 183/185(C.sub.8H.sub.8Br.sup.+, 30% for each, 60% total), 199/201. (C.sub.8H.sub.8BrO.sup.+, 1% total), 215/217 (C.sub.8H.sub.8BrS.sup.+, 0.6% total) and 214/216 (C.sub.8H.sub.7BrS.sup.+, 0.5% total). Other ions (without bromine) are m/e 77, 91, 103, 104,105, 119 and 135.

G. Use of Salt (S)-5 in Large Excess Over (R)-7b to Limit Racemization: Preferred Single-Reaction Method 2 and Short Double Reaction Method.

Rationale.

A second way to limit racemization during the completion phase of the reaction of (S)-5 with benzylic bromide (R)-7b is to maintain a substantial excess of (S)-5. If .gtoreq.100% excess of (S)-5 is present initially, then the concentration ofMosher's thiocarboxylate will exceed the concentration of ionic bromide throughout the reaction. Since Mosher's thiocarboxylate clearly reacts faster than ionic bromide with benzylic bromides, the desired thioester formation will greatly prevail. Nearthe completion of the reaction, although racemization will not have been completely eliminated, its effect will be much smaller than in the case where the reactants are nearly equimolar.

Demonstration.

A 0.75-mL GC vial was charged with 1.8 mg (6.8 .mu.mol) of benzylic bromide (R)-7b ([.alpha.].sub.D=-47.8.degree., see Section O) and 0.1 mL of CDCl.sub.3. Then 7.5 mg (16.1 .mu.mol) of(S)-5 crystals and 0.3 mL of CDCl.sub.3 was mixed into thissolution. After 2 min reaction at 25.degree. C., half of this reaction mixture was quenched with CH.sub.3I/CDCl.sub.3. Crystals (the HI salt of PROTON SPONGE, 12-HI) separated almost immediately. This sample was filtered through silica gel and elutedwith dichloromethane. Analysis of the filtrate by GC/MS shows an intense peak for the methyl thioester 11 at 6.4 min and a low level (.about.10%) of the (S,S)-diastereomer of 6b at 14.68 min. Only a very weak peak (<1% relative to the majordiasteromers) eluted at 14.90 min for the minor diastereomer, (S,R)-6b. The more sensitive selective ion chromatogram for the base peak at m/e 189 and the weaker pair of ions at m/e 183 and 185 gave good integrations for this weak peak as being0.76.+-.0.1% of the (S,S) peak. Assuming that the detector sensitivities and the formation rate constants for the two diastereomers are not greatly different (checked below), from these results one can conclude that the ee of the starting benzylicbromide, (R)-7b, is very high (.gtoreq.98%, probably 98.5.+-.0.2%).

After 24 h, the remaining reaction mixture was diluted with CDCl.sub.3 for NMR analysis. The .sup.1H spectrum no longer detects 7b. Integrations of the .sup.19F NMR spectrum of this mixture show the minor diastereomer, (S,R)-6b, represents only1-2% of the major diastereomer (de is 96-98%) at the end of the reaction. More accurate GC/MS data show 1.1.+-.0.2% for (S,R)-diastereomer for de 97.8.+-.0.4%. In this case, racemization during the course of the reaction was less important than wasobserved in Section F.

Integration Bias.

A single experiment with quenching of the early reaction of (RS)-5 plus (R)-7b or (RS)-7b plus (S)-5, determines the kinetic-sensitivity factor [for the combined effects of different detector sensitivities and kinetics of formation for the twodiastereomers (S,S) and (R, S) in the first case or, equally, (S,S) and (S,R) in the example that follows].

In a GC vial, 3.6 mg (7.7 .mu.mol) of (S)-5 was dissolved in 0.1 mL of CDCl.sub.3. Then 0.94 mg (3.6 .mu.mol) of (R,S)-7b was washed in with 0.1 mL of CDCl.sub.3. Two min after mixing, the reaction was quenched by adding excessCH.sub.3I/CDCl.sub.3, filtered through 0.5 g of silica with dichloromethane and analyzed by GC/MS as above. The ratio of the peaks for (S,S)-- and (S,R)-diastereomers was 0.80 (.+-.0.02): 1 from the average of nine integral ratios from m/e 189, 183 and185 selective ion chromatograms and three injections. This corrects the value of the de for 6b and the ee for 7b (98.5% above) to 98.8.+-.0.2%.

H. Use of Salt (S)-5 for Determining the ee of (S)-Methanesulfonate Ester (10) of (S)-1-(2-naphthyl)ethanol, (S)-8a.

Mesylate ester 10 was prepared from (S)-8a by a modification of the procedure of Crossland and Servis..sup.16 The reaction was done in THF (not dichloromethane) to enhance the solubility of the alcohol. To a solution of 218 mg (1.24 mmol) of 98%(S)-8a in 5 mL of anhydrous THF stirred at 0.degree. C., was added 250 .mu.L (1.8 mmol) of triethylamine and then, dropwise, 158 mg (.about.110 .mu.L, 1.38 mmol, 11% excess) of methanesulfonyl chloride. This was stirred 1/2 h at 0.degree. C., then 5mL of pentane were added. This cold slurry was diluted to 25.0 mL with 1:1 THF-pentane and allowed to settle. Then 0.2 mL of the supernate was transferred and concentrated cold (N.sub.2 then vacuum to 0.1 Torr). The colorless residue was dissolved inCDCl.sub.3 (+TMS+F-11) and transferred to a cold NMR tube containing 4.6 mg (10 .mu.mol) of (S)-5 crystals. This was maintained cold (0.degree. C.) for 2 h then warmed to 20.degree. C. for NMR acquisitions, which show a small excess of 5 and 24%conversion of 10 (by integrations of ROSO.sub.2CH.sub.3 and CH.sub.3SO.sub.3.sup.- at 2.70 and 2.82 ppm). The thioester products, for which the (S,R)-diastereomer of 6 predominates, have formed with de=0.78, but only in .about.75% yield at that time. Acquisition after 1 h at 35.degree. C. shows 58% conversion and de=0.56. Final acquisitions after 18 h at 25.degree. C. show a 99% conversion of 10 mainly to the diastereomeric thioesters (de=0.41) in .about.70% yield. Major side products are2-vinylnaphthalene and alcohol 8a.

These results are consistent with racemization competing with the desired S.sub.N2 reactions. Extrapolating the de values back to 0% conversion suggests that the initial de value is approximately 0.85-0.95. Note, however, that thisdetermination was not corrected for enantiomer kinetic selection in the calculated value of de. No attempt was made to evaluate the kinetic factor.

I. (S)-Methanesulfonate Ester (10) of (S)-1-(2-Naphthyl)ethanol, (S)-8a, and Determination of the Optical Purity of the Predominantly (R)-Enantiomer of Benzyl 1-(2-Naphthyl)ethyl Sulfide, (R)-9.

The preparation of 10 was done essentially as described above (Section H). The slurry resulting after the first 5 mL of pentane had been added was filtered cold and the Et.sub.3N.HCl solids were washed with minimal cold 1:1 pentane/THF. Thecombined filtrates were maintained cold and concentrated to 3 g of solution of 10.

In a second side-arm flask, to a slurry of 38 mg of NaH (1.6 mmol, pentane-washed/N.sub.2-dried mineral oil dispersion) in 6 mL of anhydrous THF, was added 194 mg (1.56 mmol) of benzyl mercaptan. A thick suspension resulted. This readilydissolved by adding 0.6 mL of absolute ethanol. Approximately 85% of this solution (1.3 mmol) was added with stirring to the crude mesylate ester (cold, THF solution from above). The thick slurry that resulted was allowed to warm to 25.degree. C. andstir for 30 min, then it was poured into 25 mL of dichloromethane plus 25 mL of water and swirled. The organic phase was combined with a second wash of the aqueous layer, dried (Na.sub.2SO.sub.4) and concentrated under vacuum to 359 mg of oily residue. Overnight at +5.degree. C., this oil crystallized. The .sup.1H NMR showed that this product is 85-90% (by wt.) pure thioester 9, .about.90% yield. Polarimetry gave [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.25=+239.degree. (1% in EtOH). Corrected for purity, the[.alpha.].sub.D.sup.25=+273.+-.10.degree.. A single recrystallization of this crude product from ethanol gave optically pure crystals, [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.25=+329.degree. (1% in EtOH) and show that the optical purity of the initial product is 83.+-.3%.

J. Determination of the ee of Optically Active (R)-1-Bromo-1-(2-naphthyl)ethane, (R)-7a, by Formation of the Benzyl (S)-1-(2-Naphthyl)ethyl Sulfide Derivative, (S)-9.

To an ice-cold slurry of 497 mg (2.1 mmol) of the optically active crystals of (R)-7a ([.alpha.].sub.D.apprxeq.+23.degree., see Section M) in 7 mL of absolute ethanol stirred under nitrogen, was added 7 mL of sodium benzylthiolate in ethanol(prepared from 266 mg, 2.14 mmol, of benzyl mercaptan and 49 mg of sodium metal, 2.1 mg atom, in 7 mL ethanol). The resulting solution was warmed briefly nearly to reflux, then was cooled to 25.degree. C. The pH of this solution was weakly basic(.about.8) and required 0.05 mmol of acid (HCl) to neutralize it. The neutral solution was concentrated and the residue was slurried in 1:1 pentane/dichloromethane and filtered to remove salts. The residue, after concentrating (596 mg), crystallized at+5.degree. C. overnight. Analysis by NMR shows that this residue is 96% (by wt.) pure 7a (.about.97% yield, 0.6% by wt. benzyl mercaptan, 1.5% dibenzyl disulfide and 1.9% 2-vinylnaphthylene). Polarimetry showed [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.25=-132.degree. (1%in EtOH), which corrected for purity gives [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.25=-138.degree.. Two recrystallizations from ethanol increased (the absolute value of) the rotation to [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.25=-328.degree., which did not change on further recrystallization. The optical activity of the initial (S)-9, and presumably also the ee of (R)-7a, is 42%. [The lower value of ee here compared to the de of Mosher's thioester, 6a (47%, see Section D) may reflect slight racemization induced by the more basic sodiumbenzyl thiolate nucleophile.] The mp of optically pure (S)-9 is 61.5-63.5.degree. C. (from EtOH).

In a second flask, to a slurry of 161 mg (6.7 mmol) of pentane-washed mineral-oil dispersion (N.sub.2 dried) sodium hydride in 10 mL of anhydrous THF was added 820 mg (6.6 mmol) of benzyl mercaptan and 0.5 mL of absolute ethanol to dissolve thesodium benzyl thiolate.

The cold methanesulfonate/THF slurry (above) was diluted with 25 mL of pentane and filtered cold. The filtrate and washes were concentrated to 15 mL and the solution of sodium benzyl thiolate was added slowly. The resulting slurry of sodiummethanesulfonate was stirred 20 min at 25.degree. C., then poured into water and extracted into dichloromethane. The combined organic phases were washed with water, dried (Na.sub.2SO.sub.4), concentrated and evacuated at 80.degree. C./0.02 Torrleaving 1.80 g of residual oil. Theoretical yield is 1.75 g. When this was cooled (+5.degree. C.) and seeded with (R)- and (S)-9, this mix slowly solidified, mp 34-49.degree. C. NMR indicated that it was only 90% pure 9. Attempts to purify thisproduct by recrystallization failed. Distillation of 100 mg in a micro-sublimer removed volatiles (dibenzyl disulfide) boiling to 95.degree. C./0.01 Torr. The distillate collected boiling to 113.degree. C./0.01 Torr (bath temperature) crystallized oncooling (+5.degree. C.) overnight, mp 30.5-31.5.degree. C. The .sup.1H NMR spectrum (CDCl.sub.3) is identical to that of the (S)-enantiomer (Section J).

The IR spectrum of the (RS)-product as a KBr pellet is identical to the IR of (RS)-9 as a melt between salts. Apparently, the process of cold grinding and pressing (+5.degree. C.) induced melting in the KBr pellet:

An NMR tube was charged with 2.4 mg (0.010 mmol) of Mosher's (S)-thioacid, (S)-3, and 1.4 mg (0.009 mmol) of (S)-1-(2-naphthyl)ethanol and CDCl.sub.3 to 5 cm depth. NMR shows that the thioacid is in slight excess. Then 5.2 mg (0.020 mmol) oftriphenylphosphine were added. The NMR of the thioacid did not change--no salt formed. Finally, 4.3 .mu.L of 94% diisopropyl azodicarboxylate (.about.0.020 mmol) were added at 20.degree. C. After 22 h at 25.degree. C., the .sup.19F NMR spectrum showsthe (S,R)-diastereomer of thioester 6a at -69.29 ppm in large excess (de>85%) over a weak peak at -69.42 ppm for (S,S)-6a. Other .sup.19F signals, especially -67.99 for the salt of Mosher's thioacid, indicate that the yield of thioesters 6a is only50-70%. Side products and co-products were not identified in the .sup.1H NMR spectrum, which is complex.

HPLC purification of this crude product mixture, followed by GC/MS analysis (100% methyl) shows de for (S,R)-6a is 94%. No attempt was made to study the degree of racemization at early time points.

An ice-cold anhydrous solution of 599 mg (3.75 mmol) of bromine in 2 mL of dry dichloromethane was added slowly to a cold (0.degree. C.) anhydrous solution of 762 mg (1.9 mmol) of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (diphos) in 7 mL of drydichloromethane. This solution was stirred 5 min at 0.degree. C. and developed a white precipitate of the adduct in a light amber solution. Then a solution of 532 mg (3.1 mmol) of (S)-7a in 2 mL of dry dichloromethane was added in portions. A newprecipitate (diphosdioxide dihydrobromide) separated. This slurry was warmed slowly to 25.degree. C. and stirred for 15 min. Then 30 mL of dry ether and 60 mL of pentane were added. After 15 min this slurry was filtered through a coarse glass fritinto a dry glass vessel for cold storage (-15.degree. C.) under nitrogen. The original optical activity of this solution (.alpha..sub.D.sup.25=+0.080.degree., 0.6 wt % in the mixed solvents in 5 cm cell) was stable for several months. NMR shows that aconcentrated sample of this crude product is >90% pure 7a (3 wt % 2-vinylnaphthylene and ca. 3-5% other aryl impurities, probably related to diphos): [.alpha.].sub.D.apprxeq.+23.degree.. Otherwise, the spectral properties of this product areidentical to those of (RS)-7a reported by Bull, et al. (18). Concentration of the crude product produced off-white crystals which sublime at 50.degree. C./0.4 Torr as colorless crystals, mp 71-76.degree. C.

A second similar preparation of (R)-7a produced the chiral bromide in considerably higher optical purity ([.alpha.].sub.D.sup.26=+37.degree.), about 60% higher than the first preparation. Concentration of this solution and recrystallization frompentane increased the optical activity to +49.degree.. Another sample, recrystallized four times, showed irregular increases in the optical activity to a high value: [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.30=+64.3.degree., 1% in pentane, mp=78-84.degree. C. (See SectionE for determination of 94% as the ee of this sample.)

A sample of the racemic bromide (RS)-7a, prepared similarly and recrystallized from pentane melts at 61-63.5.degree. C. [lit. 63-64 (ref. 19) and 48-52 (ref. 20), both from petroleum ether]. The IR spectrum of these crystals (KBr pellet) isidentical to the IR spectrum of the (R)-enantiomer (ee=94%) described above (Section M). As is discussed above for (RS)-9 (Section K), this observation indicates that (RS)-7a also exists as a racemic conglomerate.

The preparation of (R)-7b from (S)-8b, diphos and bromine was done essentially as for the 2-naphthyl analogue, (S)-8a, using a 20% excess of the diphosibromine reagent. Charges were 594 mg of diphos (1.5 mmol), 475 mg of bromine 3.0 mmol) and 6mL of dichloromethane. The adduct did not precipitate this time. Next, 497 mg (2.47 mmol) of (S)-8b in 3 mL of dichloromethane, then 21 mL of ether and 42 mL of pentane were added. Filtration produced a clear, nearly-colorless (faintly amber) solutionstored at -15.degree. C. (.alpha..sub.D.sup.25=-0.297.degree. in 5 cm cell). The optical activity appears to be stable for several weeks. NMR indicates that this product is quite pure 7b with no contamination seen from o-bromostyrene or alcohol 8b. This product, (R)-7b, is liquid to below 0.degree. C. However, cooling a pentane solution to -60.degree. C. produced crystals of (R)-7b that survived as the solvent was pumped off under vacuum at -50.degree. C.: mp -15 to -11.degree. C.

P. Attempts to Determine the ee of (R)-7a Using Mosher's Acid Sodium Salt in DMF/DMSO-d.sub.6

Shaw and co-workers (23) have demonstrated clean ester formation from the alkylation of carboxylic acid sodium salts in HMPA and other dipolar aprotic solvents. We attempted to use that chemistry to determine the ee of (R)-7a. Mosher's (R)-acid(6.3 mg, 0.027 mmol ) was neutralized (pH 7.5) with aq. sodium hydroxide and dried to 6.9 mg, the theoretical weight for the anhydrous salt. This salt was dissolved in 0.55 mL of DMF (not deuterated) and 0.20 mL of DMSO-d.sub.6 plus F-11, for internalreference. The .sup.19F NMR spectrum showed the Mosher's acid sodium salt singlet at -69.15 ppm. This solution was mixed with 6.0 mg of (R)-7a (0.255 mmol, [.alpha.].sub.D.apprxeq.+23.degree., see Section M). After 1.5 h at 37.degree. C., a single new.sup.19F signal at -71.00 ppm indicated that the conversion to ester was about 60% complete. After two days at 37.degree. C., .sup.19F NMR shows two poorly resolved singlets at -70.91 and -70.94 ppm in the ratio ca. 70:30. If these two peaksrepresented the (R,S) and the (R,R)-diastereomeric esters, then this would correspond to ee=40% for (R)-7a. Further results suggest that this interpretation is not valid.

This NMR solution was concentrated (0.02 Torr) to 19 mg of moist residue, which was slurried in acetonitrile-d.sub.3. NMR on this supernate shows two singlets for CF.sub.3 in the ratio 36:64 at -71.33 and -71.31 ppm. The .sup.1H NMR spectrumindicates, however, that there are three Mosher's acid related products. There are three quartets for CH.sub.3O in the ratio 45:18:36. Apparently, the .sup.19F peak at -71.31 ppm represents the superposition of two CF.sub.3 singlets (45+18). Theproduct at the level of 18% is almost certainly Mosher's acid (from the salt plus HBr generated from dehydrobromination of 7a). If this is the case, then the ratio of the two diastereomeric esters is 45:36 (de=11%).

This result was supported by GC/MS analysis of the crude product mixture. GC/MS shows about a 60:40 mixture (de .about.20%) of the diastereomeric esters eluting as poorly separated peaks at 16.97 and 17.01 min (5% phenyl column). The ei massspectra of the two diasteromers are essentially identical: m/e 388 (M.sup.+ for C.sub.22H.sub.19F.sub.3O.sub.3, 6%), 189 (6%), 158 (9), 157 (10), 127(7), 105 (4) and 77 (4).

The low value of ee (.about.15%) for (R)-7a determined in this experiment indicates that racemization of 7a is occurring in the process of ester formation. Apparently, sodium bromide, the co-product of this process, induces racemization (byS.sub.N2 inversion of 7a) under these reaction conditions.